Dianthus plant named ‘Valda Louise’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Dianthus named ‘Valda Louise’ that is characterized by double, carmine-pink flowers, a compact habit and gray-green foliage. In combination these traits set ‘Valda Louise’ apart from all other existing varieties of Dianthus known to the inventor.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application for this new invention is co-pending with three otherapplications entitled ‘Valda Kitty’, ‘Valda Isolde’ and ‘Valda Judith’.All are derived from the same program, having the same inventor andfiling date as the present application entitled Dianthus ‘Valda Louise’.

Botanical classification: Dianthus Allwoodii.

Variety denomination: Valda Louise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation that is grown for its carmine pink flowers. The new cultivaris known botanically as Dianthus Allwoodii and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Valda Louise’.

‘Valda Louise’ is the product of a program conducted by the inventor ina cultivated area of Dawlish, Devon, England. The primary focus of theprogram was to select a variety of flower color mutations from theparent plant ‘Valda Wyatt’ (unpatented).

In 1995, a naturally occuring color sport mutation was found by theinventor on part of a petal of Dianthus ‘Valda Wyatt’ (not patented).The shoots on the lower part of the stem on which the color mutationoccured were removed, rooted and grown out into flowers. One or two ofthe plants produced a whole flower exhibiting the mutated color. Thisprocess was repeated until a whole plant was obtained that produced thenew color on all flowers.

‘Valda Louise’ is a hardy perennial grown for its use as a container andlandscape plant. ‘Valda Louise’ was selected for its double, carminepink flowers and is characterized by gray-green foliage, compact habit,profuse flowering, free flowering, long flowering and vigorous growth.It is distinguishable from the parent plant ‘Valda Wyatt’ by flowercolor. The flowers of ‘Valda Wyatt’ are more red (68B) with a incompletering (66B) around the base of the petal than those of ‘Valda Louise’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theinventor who took cuttings in a cultivated area of Dawlish, Devon,England in 1995. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivarhave been determined stable and are reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These traits in combinationdistinguish this cultivar from all other commercial varieties known tothe inventor. ‘Valda Louise’ has not been tested under all possibleconditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions.

1. Dianthus ‘Valda Louise’ reaches approximately 46 cm. in height and 38cm. in width at 12 months.

2. Dianthus ‘Valda Louise’ exhibits double, carmine pink double flowers.

3. Dianthus ‘Valda Louise’ exhibits a compact plant habit.

4. Dianthus ‘Valda Louise’ exhibits dense gray-green foliage.

5. Dianthus ‘Valda Louise’ is long flowering, blooming from May toOctober.

6. Dianthus ‘Valda Louise’ is hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the distinguishing traits of thenew cultivar.

The drawing on sheet 1 is a color copy of an original photograph showinga close-up view of ‘Valda Louise’ and illustrating the flower color,foliage color, buds, and dense, compact foliage.

The drawing on sheet 2 is the color copy of an original photographillustrating the carmine pink flower of ‘Valda Louise’ in comparison tothe flower color of the three co-pending varieties. All drawings weremade in July of plants grown in 4-inch containers out-of-doors inEncinitas, Calif. All photographs and copies were taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possibleby conventional photography and copying.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as grown ina 4-inch container out-of-doors in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The colordeterminations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Dianthus Allwoodii ‘Valda Louise’.

Commercial classification: Hardy perennial.

Common name: Carnation.

Use: Container and landscape plant.

Parentage: ‘Valda Louise’ is a sport of Dianihus ‘Valda Wyatt’ (notpatented).

Plant description:

Bloom period.—May to October.

Plant habit.—Compact and clump forming.

Height.—46 cm. in height.

Width.—38 cm in width.

Hardiness.—Hardy to minus 15° Centigrade.

Type.—Perennial herb.

Root system.—Fibrous.

Propagation.—Propagation is done by cuttings.

Cultural requirements.—Plant in full sun, well-drained and moderatelyfertile soil.

Diseases and pests.—Susceptible to known Dianthus pests and disease butno other susceptibilities are known to the inventor.

Time to develop roots.—2 weeks is required to develop roots on aninitial cutting.

Temperature to produce rooting.—5° Centigrade air temperature and 21°Centigrade base heat is required to produce rooted cuttings.

Crop time.—5-7 months are required to produce a finished one-galloncontainer from a rooted cutting.

Stem:

Shape.—Cylindrical.

Stem dimensions.—28 cm. in length and 0.75 cm. in length.

Stem surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.

Stem color.—189A.

Branching.—Numerous basal breaks.

Internode length.—5 cm. between nodes.

Node color.—160D.

Node dimensions.—0.50 cm. in diameter and 0.50 cm. in length.

Foliage:

Type.—Evergreen.

Shape.—Lanceolate.

Division.—Simple.

Apex.—Acute.

Base.—Decurrent.

Venation.—Not Prominent.

Margins.—Entire.

Arrangement.—Opposite and spiraling up stem.

Attachment.—Sheathing.

Surface (adaxial and abaxial).—Glaucous.

Leaf dimensions.—7.5 cm. in length and 0.25 cm. in width.

Leaf color (adaxial and abaxial).13 189A.

Fragrance.—Absent.

Flowers:

Type.—Salviform, double and symmetrical.

Flower dimensions.—5 cm. in height and 5 cm. in diameter includingcalyx.

Throat depth.—2 cm.

Fragrance.—Subtle clove scent.

Bud dimensions.—3.25 cm. in length and 1.25 cm. in width.

Bud shape.—Ovate.

Bud color.—58 B.

Flower color.—58 C.

Petals.—Persistent, 10-14 double petals, apopetalous, overlapping andsynpetalous.

Petal margin.—Crenate.

Petal surface.—Glabrous.

Calyx dimensions.—3 cm. in length and 1 cm. in width.

Calyx color.—189B.

Sepals.—Five.

Sepals fused or unfused.—Fused.

Sepal dimensions.—3 cm. in length and 0.50 cm. in width.

Epicalyx.—189B.

Epicalyx dimensions.—1 cm. in length and 1 cm. in width.

Peduncle dimensions.—9 mm. in length and 3 mm. in diameter.

Peduncle color.—189A.

Lastingness of flowers.—5 to 10 days.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.—Ten, 2 whorls, stamens of outer whorl are shorter,apostemonous, distinct, stamens develop after pistil development, selfcompatible, exserted 3 mm. above corolla.

Stamen color.—155 A.

Stamen dimensions.—2.5 cm. in length and 1 mm. in width.

Anther color.—155 A.

Anther shape.—Oblong.

Anther attachment.—Dorsifixed.

Anther dimensions.—Less than 0.50 mm. in width and less than 0.50 mm. inlength.

Pistil.—One in number.

Pistil dimensions.—3.5 cm. in length and 1 mm. in width.

Pistil color.—155A.

Stigma.—Two.

Stigma color.—155A.

Style color.—155A.

Style dimensions.—1 cm. in length, 1 mm. in diameter and protruding1.0-1.2 cm. above petals.

Ovary position.—Superior.

Ovary color.—Lower half is 155 A and upper half is 139 D.

Ovary shape.—Oval to round.

Ovary dimensions.—7 mm. in height and 6 mm. in diameter.

Seed production: No seed production has been observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘ValdaLouise’ as described and illustrated herein.